ADVANCED REVIEW: ‘Amazing Spider-Man,’ Issue #67

Amazing Spider-Man #67 is written by Nick Spencer, penciled by Marcelo Ferreira and Carlos Gomez, inked by Wayne Faucher, Ferreria, and Gomez, colored by Morry Hollowell and Andrew Crossley, and lettered by VC’s Joe Caramaga. It is published by Marvel Comics. This issue kicks off “The Chameleon Conspiracy” as Peter Parker’s sister Teresa interrogates the master of disguise over her origins and seeks vengeance for the death of her partner/lover David in previous issues. The titular web-slinger himself is reeling over the shock of the last issue, which saw his old friend Betty Brant return from a mysterious destination pregnant. To top things off, Peter’s lab partner Jamie Tolentino is desperate to reactivate their future-telling project, the Clairvoyant, which draws him into the crosshairs of the mercenary Chance.

Much like the previous issue, Amazing Spider-Man #67 is packed with plot points. However, it actually manages to give them the space they need to breathe. Peter’s meeting with Betty leads to his lab work with Jamie, leading to Jamie and Chance’s confrontation. Also continuing to build off previous plot points in his run, Spencer returns to the Chameleon’s machinations and how they affect Teresa’s life. The Chameleon is the first foe Spider-Man ever fought, and in the same way that the Kingpin took center stage in the “King’s Ransom” story arc, Chameleon looks to be a major player in this one. Fitting, as it’s named after him.

The issue also forces characters to come to terms with emotional truths. For Peter, it’s the fact that he needs to find true balance in his superhero and personal life. For Teresa, it’s whether or not she can follow in her brother’s—and more importantly, her parents’—footsteps. For Jamie, it’s helping his family with an invention that is literally built to work in his favor. Spencer uses this as the emotional thread for his narrative, tying all the disparate stories together with a shared experience. It isn’t the first time he’s done this during his run, and it’s a storytelling trick he seems to excel at.

Visually, this issue takes a dark turn thanks to the artwork of Ferreria, Faucher, Hollowell, and Crossley, which is again fitting thanks to the dark nature of Teresa and Chameleon’s encounter. Shadows fall over most of the characters’ faces, with their clothing taking on darker hues. A contrast to this is most of Spidey’s scenes, which feature him in broad daylight-his bright red and blue costume serving as the opposite of Teresa’s black leather jacket and red/white bodysuit. Finally, Gomez illustrates an epilogue that features Doctor Octopus and serves as a prelude to the upcoming “Sinister War” story arc in July. I’m honestly excited for this, given the premise and the fact that Octopus is the one Spider-Man foe that Spencer has yet to write.

Amazing Spider-Man #67 kicks off a new story arc, bringing back one of Peter Parker’s oldest foes and setting the stage for the Sinister War event. With “King’s Ransom” and now “The Chameleon Conspiracy,” Nick Spencer looks to be bringing multiple plot threads to a close on his run, and I’m intrigued to see where it all ends.

Amazing Spider-Man #67 will be available to purchase on June 2nd, wherever comics are sold.